Table-bed



R. N. WOODMAN.

TABLE BED.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2, I9I7. 1,337,497. Patented Apr. 20,1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1- R. N. WOODMAN.

TABLE BED.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.2, I917.

R, N. WOODMAN.

TABLE BED.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2. I9I7.

1,337,497,, Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

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N. WOODMAN.

TABLE B ION FILED APPLI .2, 1917. 1,337,497. Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

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RICHARD N WOODMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOI$, ASSIGNOB, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'IO DICK SAFETY CORPORATION, A COBPCRATION OF ILLINOIS.

TABLE-BED.

Application filed March 2,

1/ b all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD N. 001)- MAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Table-Beds; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact deseription of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

It has been the practice in constructing combination table beds to mount the table top by means of hinges or pivots, usually attached to the rear upper edge of the table to permit the top to be swung upwardly about its hinges into a rearwardly inclined or vertical position so that the folding be l contained within the table may be unfolded into a position for use, while in other cases the table top is pivotally mounted at one corner only to permit the top to be swung outwardly in the plane of the table top. These constructions have not proven entirely satisfactory for the reason that it is necessary each time the bed is to be unfolded for use, that all of the articles which may be disposed upon the table top must be removed before the table can be opened.

This invention relates to an improved form of a combination table bed or other article of furniture, either of the movable or stationary type, wherein the top is constructed to permit the same to'be lifted or raised above th remainder of the table or article of furniture without tilting the same, into a position in a plane parallel with the plane of the floor, thus making it unnecessary to remove any articles which may be disposed upon the top at the time when it is desired to unfold a folding bed, contained within the table bed or article of furniture, into a position for use.

It is an important object of this invention to construct a table bed provided with mechanisms adapted to raise the table top through planes parallel to the'floor, to permit unfolding of a bed contained within the table into an open position for use.

It is furthermore an object of this invention to construct a table bed wherein manually operatable mechanisms are provided for raising the table top through horizontal planes to permit unfolding of a bed con- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

Serial No. 152,137.

tained within the table into an open position for use without necessitating the removal of any articles which may be positioned upon the table top.

It is also an important object of this invention to construct a table bed simple in construction adapted to readily permit the unfolding or folding of a bed contained within the table without removing articles placed upon the table top.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosure in the drawings and specification.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a table bed, in closed position, embodying the principles of my invention.

Fig. :2 is a central vertical section of the device in open position for use, with parts shown in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device partly shown in section with the table top removed, and disclosing the folding bed in open position for use, partly broken away.

Fig. 4- is a section taken on line elt of Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 55 of k with the folding bed omitted.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1, showing the operation of the table top in dotted lines.

Fig. 7 is an end elevational view of a modified form of the device, showing the top elevated.

Fig. 8 is a lateral vertical section taken through one end thereof showing the top raising mechanisms, in normal position, and in elevation.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged section taken on line 99, of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an end elevation of another modified form of the device, showing the position of the top in its uppermost position in dotted lines.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section taken on line 1111 of Fig. 10.

12 is a section taken on line 12- 12, of Fig. 11, with parts broken away and with parts shown in section.

As shown on the drawings:

In the form of the invention shown in i Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, the table bed comprises legs 1, the legs at each end of the table being connected together at their upper ends by means of a box or trough 2, open at the top, which is flush with the top of said legs. The ends of the table are connected together by means of a back board 3, and a bottom 1-, forming a compartment having a front board 5, pirotally mounted at each end or in any other suitable manner to permit the same to be swung outwardly into an open position. The top of the table compartment is open, while the ends thereof are closed by the inner sides of the boxes 2.

Mounted within the table compartment is a folding bed 6, of any desired tyge, shown in extended position for use in Fig. 2, and in folded. position out of use within said 001% pa-rtment by the dotted lines.

Each of the legs 1, has securely mounted therein a tube 7 equal in length to said legs and provided with a slot 8, ez-ztending from the top to the bottom th roof. Slidably mounted within each of the tubes 7, is a movable reinforcing tube 9, provided with a slot 10, registering with the slot 8, and extending from the bottom thereof to a point approximately half way between its ends. Also provided in each leg 1, is a long recess or drilling 11, extending longitudinally therethrough vand registering with the re spective slots 8 and 10, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. Slidably mounted in each of the slidable tubes 9, is a solid rod or shaft 12, having rigidly secured to the lower end thereof a cord, cable or metal tape 13, which is threaded through the recess 11, and over a small incased s leave 11-, mounted within a suitable recess near the upper end of each leg. Each of the cords 13, extends into one of the boxes 2, over a slidably mounted pulley wheel 15, and has its end rigidly secured to one of the legs 1, as shown in Fig. 4.

Secured to the axle of each of the pulley wheels 15, is a yoke 16, to which is attached one end of a cord, cable or metal tape 17, engaging over a stationary pulley wheel 18, opposite to and in the same plane with its respective pulley wheel 15. Each of the cords 17, after passing over its respective pulley wheel 18, passes over and has its other end secured to a large pulley wheel or drum 19, disposed between and below each one of the sets of the pulley wheels 15 and 18. Projecting longitudinally through the lower central portion of the boxes 2, and the bed compartment is a main shaft 20, one end of which is squared or otherwise suitably formed and extends through and-beyond the outer wall of one of the boxes 2, to per mit a crank or handle to engage the same for turning the shaft. The pulley wheels 19, in each of the boxes 2, are keyed or cured by other suitable means to the shaft D tween the pulley wheels 19, is a wheel 21, engaged by a weighted pawl 22, to permit rotation of the ratchet wheels 19, and the shaft 20, in but one direction when engaged by said pawls. The weighted pawls 22, are rigidly secured to and actuatable by an auxiliary or rocking shaft '28, opposite and parallel to the shaft 20, and also having one end squared or otherwise suitably formed and extending through the table bed and out of one end thereof to permit the same to be engaged by a suitable crank or handle to rock the auxiliary shaft to disengage the pawls from the respective ratchet wheels 21. Rigidly secured to the upper ends of the rods 12, is a tabletop 2%, adapted to be raised or lowered through horizontal planes with the raising or lowering of .ue rods 12, which are actuatable simultaneou ly by means of the main shaft 20, and the respcctive sets of pulleys and cords.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the table b d comprises front legs 25, and rear legs 26, the front and rear leg at each end of the table are connected together at their upper ends by a box or trough 27, open at its top. The ends of the table bed are connected together by a back board, a bottom board and pivotally mounted front board similar to the construction shown in Fig. 2, of the draw ings and affording a suitable compartment in which a folding bed is mounted.

Projecting through the rear end of the boxes 27, and the folding bed compartment is a main shaft 28, one end of which is squared and projects outwardly beyond. one end of the table bed to afford a means by which a crank or handle may be engaged on the shaft to rotate the same. Rigidly secured upon each end of the shaft 28, within the boxes 27, is a spiral gear 29, which meshes with a spiral gear 30, disposed at right angles thereto and is rigidly keyed or secured by other suitable means on the inner end of a right and left handed rotatable screw shaft 81, projecting through the box 27, and having its ends supported in the legs 25 and 26, as shown in Fig. 8. Movably engaged upon the right and left handed screw portions of each of the screw shafts 31, are internally threaded cylindrical carriages or nuts 32, each of which has integrally formed thereon an upwardly projecting lug 33. Pivotally connected to each se of lugs 33, are the lower ends of a set of lazy tongs 34:, the upper ends of which pivotally connected. to a suitable projection formed on the bottom of a supporting bracket or arm 35, the rear end of which is rigidly secured to the upper end, of a guide rod 36, one of which is slidably mounted in each of the rear legs 26. Rigidly mounted by any suitable means upon the supporting brackets 35, is a table top 3'7, which when the table bed is in closed or normal position, rests upon the upper ends of the table legs.

The modified form of the device shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, comprises a folding bed section 38, supported at each end by a leg 39, connected to one another by a bracing shelf 40. Projecting longitudinally through the shelf 40, to the rear of the center line thereof, is a main or actuating shaft 41, one end of which projects into one of the table legs 39, while the other end of the shaft is squared and projects through the other table leg to afford a suitable means for permitting a crank or handle to be engaged thereon to rotate the shaft.

A chamber or recess 42, is cut or formed in the upper portion of each of the table legs 39, through which the shaft 41, passes. Keyed or secured by other suitable means upon each end of the shaft 41, within the chambers 42, is a pinion 43, which meshes with a slidable rack 44, which in turn is in mesh with a small movable gear 45, secured upon a floating shaft 46. Mounted in each of the legs 39, and projecting into the chamber 42, of the respective leg is a stationary rack 47, positioned to mesh with the movable gear 45. Also keyed upon each of the floating shafts 46, is a large gear 48, which meshes with a rack 49, formed on or rigidly secured upon a vertical supporting rod 50, one of which is slidably mounted in a suitable passage provided for the purpose in each one of the legs 39. Rigidly mounted upon the upper ends of the supporting rods 50, is a table top 51, adapted in normal posi tion to rest upon the bed section 38.

The operation is as follows:

In the form of table bed shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, when it is desired to lift the table top 24, to permit the bed 6, to be unfolded into a position for use, a suitable crank is engaged on the squared projecting end of the shaft 20, which is rotated,- simultaneously rotating the large pulley wheels 19, and the ratchet wheels 21. The cords 17, connected to the large pulley wheels 19, are wound thereon, thus drawing the slidably mounted pulley wheels 15, toward the respective stationary pulley wheels 18, thereby causing the cords 13, to be drawn up wardly, simultaneously raising or elevating all of the rods 12, and gradually elevating the table top 24, through horizontal planes, without requiring the removal of any articles which may be upon the table top at the time. As the cords 13, are pulled upwardly, the lower ends thereof being secured to the bottom of the rods 12, the cords 13, slide in the registering slots 8 and 10, until the upper ends of the slots 10, of the movable reinforcing tubes 9, are reached, from which point by a continued upward movement of the cords 13, the tubes 9, are also raised with the rods 12, to reinforce and guide the same.

To prevent the table top from moving downwardly from its uppermost position when the crank is removed from the end of the shaft 20, the weighted pawls 22, engage the teeth of the ratchet wheels 21. \Vith the table top elevated, the front board 5, is dropped and the bed 6, may be unfolded from the table compartment into a position for use as shown in Fig. 2.

To lower the top 24, after the bed 6, has

been folded into the table compartment, a crank is engaged upon the projecting squared endof the auxiliary shaft 23, which is rotated or rocked to throw the pawls 22, out of engagement with the ratchet wheels 21. thus permitting the table elevating mechanisms to be operated in the reverse direction with the lowering of the top 24.

The operation of the modified. form of the device disclosed in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, is very simple. A suitable crank is engaged on the squared end of the shaft 2, to retate the same, thus simultaneously rotating the spiral gears 29, which meshing with the spiral gears 30, rotate the same and thereby the right and left handed screw shafts 31. lVith the rotation of the shafts 31, the carriages 32, on each shaft move inwardly toward one another, thus simultaneously opening or extending the lazy tongs 34, up wardly thereby raising the table top 37, through horizontal planes without requiring the removal of any articles from the table top. The rods 36, guide the table top in its upward and downward movements. \Vith the top 37, raised, the folding bed con tained within the table compartment may be unfolded for use.

To lower the top 37, after the bed has been folded into the table, the shaft 28, is rotated by the crank in the opposite direction, thus operating the carriages 32, on each of the screw shafts 31, to close the lazy tongs thereby gradually lowering the top to its normal position upon the table,

In the modified form of the device shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, the table top 51, is elevated through horizontal planes, without requiring the removal of any articles which may be upon said top, by applying a suitable crank to the squared end of the shaft 41, and rotating the same. The rotation of the shaft 41, rotates the pinions 43, which meshing with the movable rack 44, elevate the same, thereby rotating the small gears 45, which also mesh with the stationary racks 47, thus causing the gears 45, and the floating shafts 46, to simulta neously rotate and move upwardly in the chambers 42. With the rotation and up ward movement of the floating shafts 46, the large gears 48, in mesh with the racks 49, are rotated to simultaneously elevate the supporting rods 50, and the table top 51, into a position to permit a folding bed contained within the table compartment to be unfolded into a position for use. To lower the top 51, the shaft 41, is rotated in the opposite direction, thus reversing the operation of the table top elevating mechanisms.

I am aware that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an article of furniture of the class described the combination with a'table having chambers in the ends thereof, of a movable top on said table normally closing said chambers, a folding bed within said table between said chambers, mechanisms within said chambers, and telescoping supports within said table connected with said mechanisms and with said top adapted to be elevated from said table and adjusted with respect to each other to elevate the table top to permit unfolding of the bed.

2. The combination with a table having chambers inthe ends thereof, of a folding bed within said table between said chambers, a top for said table normally closing said chambers, telescoping supports within said table connected with said top, and pulley mechanisms within said chambers connected with said telescoping supports to operate the same to .raise the table top to permit unfolding of the bed.

3. The combination with a table having chambers therein, of a folding bed within said table between said chambers, a top for said table, supports slidably mounted in said table and connected with said top, a fixed pulley rotatably mounted in each of said chambers, a movable pulley rotatably mounted in each of said chambers, mechanisms for drawing said movable pulleys toward said fixed pulleys, and means connected with said movable pulleys and to said supports adapted to actuate said supports when said movable pulleys are moved toward said fixed pulleys to cause said top to elevate to permit unfolding of the bed.

4. The combination with a table having a chamber therein, of a folding bed in said table, a movable top for said table, a support slidably mounted in said table and attached to said top, a pulley slidably mounted in said chamber, flexible means engaged therearound and attached to said table and to said slidable support, a fixed pulley rotatably mounted in said chamber, an actuating mechanism within said chamber, adjustable means for locking the same, and flexible means engaged around said fixed pulley and attached to said slidable pulley and to said actuating mechanism to cause said slidable pulley to move toward said fixed pulley when said mechanism is operated whereby the first mentioned flexible means operates to elevate said support and thereby raise the table top to permit unfolding of the bed.

5. The combination with a table, of a folding bed therein, a movable topfor said table normally covering'said folding bed, supporting means for said top slidably 4 mounted in said table, fixed and slidable pulley mechanisms mounted in said table, and means connecting the same to said supporting means to cause operation thereof when said slidable pulley mechanisms are moved toward said fixed pulley mechanisms to elevate the table top to permit unfolding of the bed.

6. The combination with a table, of a folding bed therein, a movable top for said table normally covering said bed, a rotatable pulley mechanism slidably mounted in said table, flexible means attached to said table and to said top, and means for sliding said pulley mechanisms to cause elevation of said top by said flexible means to permit unfolding of the bed.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RICHARD N. WVOODMAN.

I/Vitnesses:

CHARLES W. HILLs, J r., NM. N. HOLMES. 

